The basics of fitness: What it is, and what it isn't.
How far can you run? What's your average wattage on the bike? For what distance? Not much into cycling? Okay, how fast can you swim? What do you mean you can't swim? How much weight can you bench press? How many push-ups can you do? How many sit-ups can you do? How many pull-ups? Who cares?
Whatever it is, its hard to argue with the fact that fitness is important. It makes our minds and bodies stronger and healthier, it extends our lifespan and improves our quality of life. It increases capacity thereby decreasing limitations, and forces us to make positive life choices. It opens doors and crushes doubt, instilling confidence and radiant optimism. All well and good, but how does one obtain it? How much fitness is "enough?" My personal definition of fitness is far more expansive and decidedly more precise, however mine is heavily biased; extreme endurance athletes tend to have a drastically different view of fitness than the average 'weekend warrior.' As much emphasis and importance as we place on it, we tend to look at fitness as little more than a tool. It is for sure the biggest, shineyest, most important and useful tool in the toolbox, but put in the simplest of terms it is a tangible means for the worldly execution of our will--a physical enabler and expresser of our mental power and ability. An Ironman triathlon, to us, for example, is not about the individual acts of swimming, biking or running long distance. It is about the challenge in its entirety; the completion of a task so formidable to the human body it was once thought impossible. Capacity is the bottom line for us--full stop, end of story. It's about the physical and mental power to exert our wills through any circumstance, and to move farther, faster and do more work without need for, or in lieu of, mechanical help. For me, it's not so much about how far I can swim or exactly how many miles I can run. I want to be unlimited by task or terrain, climate or condition. I am not here to just go through the motions, and I am not working to be average. Yes I did Ironman, twice, but like most my body was shattered at its completion. A good start, but ultimately I want to be able to cross that finish line, then go get a real workout in a couple hours later.
People who approach fitness as a way to "remain healthy" or "stay in shape" typically view it almost as a chore--a stop-gap measure employed to prevent frequent doctor visits or to avoid "letting themselves go." This is akin to putting just enough gas in the 5 gallon tank of your scooter to go only as far as your destination, at which point you repeat the same practice all over again, and so on throughout life. It will get you around town, but don't expect to be winning any drag races or taking any road trips. I'll stick with this analogy to hammer some sense home. The healthier you eat, the more gas you fill in your tank. The longer you train, the bigger that tank gets. The harder you train, the more powerful a vehicle you upgrade to. So instead of limping around town in your scooter (going through the motions 2-3 times per week and giving lip-service to a healthy diet), why not tour the entire countryside in a car with a hundred gallon gas tank and the engine of a ferrari? Alright so maybe that's a little excessive for most, but even a blind man can see the merit to increased physical capacity. Unfortunately, the knowledge required to build and develop this true and functional fitness is hidden and buried in obscure fringe sporting arenas mostly removed from mainstream attention.
True fitness is almost never present in the underwear models you drool over in magazines. If you're looking for physique, a simple combination of eating healthy, weightlifting 90 minutes per week and hopping on one of those "spinner" bikes for a couple hours per week will give you a body you won't be self-conscious about at the beach. Just keep your distance however, because you'll be crying for your mother the moment a true fitness challenge is laid at your feet. You will find plenty of solace though, as you will certainly be in the vast and comfortable majority. A visit to any typical public gym offers an idea of what modern society thinks it means to be fit; magazines and newspapers are read while dancing around on ellipticals or half-assedly turning the pedals on spin-cycles, weights are lifted by isolated muscles, often in a seated and supported position, intensity is distinctly lacking, and "aerobics" classes are nothing more than jumping jacks set to music. Sadly, modern fitness is defined by appearance rather than actual horsepower. A training program contaminated by this attitude cannot produce superior fitness, physical or mental. If you're reading "fitness" magazines you picked up at GNC, stop. If you're using a program you saw on "Fit TV," stop. If you're still following the instructions of your high-school Phys. Ed. coach, how in the hell did you get to my webpage...?
Primarily this blog is for individuals who are motivated to excel. Seeking, by definition, way more than enough and far better than average. For individuals driven, as a rule, to outperform and committed to pursue the elite. I do try, however, as much as I can to impart useful and pertinent lessons comprehensible to those hungry with vision though lacking experience. I was not always an extreme athlete, and I can still recall the imposing confusion of just starting out. I receive just as much joy from watching a green and wide-eyed but motivated athlete realize that he can do more than he thought as I do from watching a steely-eyed veteran do impossibly more than anyone thought. It is important to point out here, however, that depth of fitness is always goal-specific. Many a time after being pressed to provide a glimpse into my training schedule has the presser proclaimed, "Wow, you must be in ridiculous shape!" Perhaps, but in relation to what? Compared to the average joe, sure, I'm a motherfucking stud. Compared to a Navy SEAL however, I'm a small child at kindergarten recess. Relativity is the reality here. Obviously elite physical and mental fitness are of paramount importance to me, as a result of the way in which I perceive and approach life. And while I strongly endorse the merits of discipline and physical hardship, I am not so blindly conceited to say my way is the only. So I'm not going to tell you that you need to be a competitive triathlete, a marathon runner or a fire-breathing CrossFitter in order to lay claim to being "physically fit." I dare go out on a limb to play the odds however, and submit that you need to be doing a whole lot more than at present. What's the secret, you ask? Simple: Stop paying attention to the marketing hype and approach fitness for what it really is.
Fitness is an ideal. It is a lifestyle, not necessarily a measurable outcome. What constitutes a "fit" individual is largely dependent on the goal of the individual and is specific to his/her expectations. Fitness, therefore, is not a tangible goal per se, rather it is the byproduct of setting and achieving such progress-related goals in individual athletic disciplines. Usually fitness serves a purpose. It is a means to an end, and as such every individual must ask themselves what they want or need to be fit for. Playing professional soccer, running a marathon and competing in an adventure race all require different kinds and levels of physical fitness. Decide how far you want to go, then set a challenge or goal worthy of that level of fitness. Design or borrow a training plan and commit to make it happen. If you don't have a specific goal I am an avid proponent of generalized fitness, which is to say well-roundedness. Don't just push weights around a gym and pseudo-ski on an elliptical--cross-train with a purpose. Do bodyweight exercises. Go running. If you don't own a bike, buy one--I bet you'll enjoy it. Don't know how to swim (doggy-paddle doesn't count)? Take lessons. They're not that expensive and I bet you'll pick it up a lot faster than you think. I challenge you to commit to a month of sincere physical training. If you are not satisfied with your results, I will compensate you for every penny you spent on your endeavor. Fitness doesn't come easy, but it is absolutely worth it. And you know it.
Now drop and give me twenty.
"The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary." -Mark Twain
COMING SOON: Fitness Part 2 - For Athletes